UNCG (15-12, 4-8 SoCon) vs. Presbyterian (12-18, 2-7 Big South)
UNCG Baseball Stadium • Greensboro, N.C.
April 5-7, 2012 • Games 28-30 • 6 p.m., 6 p.m., 1 p.m.
LiveStats: UNCGSpartans.com
Storylines:
• After getting washed out on Tuesday at Wake Forest, UNCG will remain out of conference to face Presbyterian in a three-game series that starts on Thursday at 6 p.m. The two teams will play at 6 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday.
• This will be the first time the teams have ever met. UNCG is 2-2 on the season against Big South opponents while Presbyterian is 2-2 this season against Southern Conference opponents.
• On Tuesday, UNCG traveled to Wake Forest. Trevor Edwards and Lloyd Enzor both connected on home runs, but the game was canceled in the bottom of the third due to a nasty storm that hit Winston-Salem, N.C. UNCG was leading 6-4 when the skies opened up and following an hour delay, officials made the decision to cancel the game meaning the home runs will not count. The Spartans scored runs in all three innings of play and five players had gathered at least one RBI.
• Over the weekend, UNCG returned home after playing six of its last seven games away from UNCG Baseball Stadium to take on Southern Conference foe Furman. The Paladins took game one 11-3 as Paul Nitto enjoyed a career-high six-RBI performance as Furman pounded out 13 hits and scored 10 runs before UNCG could crack the score board on Friday evening. On Saturday, Furman looked as if it were going to enjoy an easy victory after leading 6-1 through four and a half innings. However, UNCG responded with six unanswered runs to take a 7-6 lead after eight innings. Dylan Hathcock took a hard luck loss after Furman scored two runs in the top of the ninth and the Paladins escaped a furious rally from the Spartans to claim the game, 9-8. On Sunday, UNCG saw Cambric Moye connect on his first home run on the season and used a stellar performance from Tyler Hollstegge, Lee Gilliam and Thomas Troelstrup to salvage game three, 9-4, while Nick Chapman chipped in with three RBI.
• Herndon, Va., native Zach Leach has been a sparkplug for the Spartan team as he leads the team with six stolen bases. Leach has committed only one error in the field in 27 games and is second on the team with a .325 batting average. The junior has collected five-multi hit games over the last eight and is batting .500 over the last four. Leach has filled the stat book with 27 hits on the year, including three doubles, a triple and two long balls; 10 walks; and 38 total bases. Leach has assisted in the "small ball" department, as well, by laying down four sacrifice bunts on the season.
• Gilliam enjoyed the last calendar week as he collected a win against North Carolina A&T and picked up a save in Sunday's contest against Furman. On the year, he has appeared in 12 games and has struck out 20 batters while walking only nine. He has logged 21 innings on the year and allowed eight earned runs. The Chapel Hill, N.C., native is tied for second on the team with two wins on the year and is one of four Spartans to collect a save.
• Over the weekend, Presbyterian took two-of-three against Big South foe UNC Asheville. The Blue Hose tossed a nine-hit shutout on the way to a 5-0 victory in game one. On Saturday, UNCA scored two runs in the top of the ninth to seal the 5-3 victory. In the rubber match, Presbyterian plated four runs in the bottom of the eighth to break a 2-2 tie and would go on to win the game 6-2.
• Presbyterian's Kenny Bryant leads the Blue Hose with four home runs, nine doubles, a slugging percentage of .500, 15 walks and 55 total bases. Bryant has started in all 30 contests this season and has committed only one error in the field this year. He sits in second with 110 at-bats, 16 runs scored and three stolen bases.
• The Blue Hose's Gabe Grammer will front the pitching staff as he has collected six saves on the season with a 1-1 record and a five-to-one strikeout to walk ratio (15:3). He leads the team with a 3.45 ERA and batters are hitting an uninviting .211 against him.
• Like last year, the Spartans are thriving on "small ball" and currently lead the nation with 51 sacrifice bunts on the season. Delaware State is in second with 43. Moye leads the team with 10 while Christian Wolfe has eight and Kris Richards and Troelstrup have chimed in with seven apiece.
• While sitting ninth in the nation, the Spartans have already hit 30 home runs, which surpass last year's total of 23. Edwards leads the way with 11 home runs. UNCG has sent a ball over the fence in 16 of its 27 contests.
• UNCG has made admission free for all home games this season at UNCG Baseball Stadium. Fans are encouraged to come out and support the Spartans all season long on campus.
- UNCG -
